Key-retainer.



f'lfb. 761,059. PATENTED MAY 31, 1994. E. T. BURROWES.

KEY RETAINER. Arnmnlon' FILED 14113.30. 1903.

N0 MODEL.

UNITED STATES EDWARD T. BURROWES,

Patented May 31, 1904.

or PORTLAND, MAINE.

KEY-RETAINER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 761,059, dated May 31,1904;

Application filed March 30, 1903.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD T. BURROWES, a citizen of the United States,resid-ing at Portland, in "the county'of Cumberland and State of Maine, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Key-Retainers, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to a novel key-retainer, and has for its object the provision of a device for preventing accidental withdrawal and dropping of a key from its keyhole. The invention also contemplates the provision of a construction which will to a limited extent resist the turning of a key from the out- 1 side of a door, whereby the same is in the nature of a safety device against intruders.

Novel details of the constructionand arrangement of the several parts of the device will be apparent from the detailed description hereinafter when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, forming part hereof. Several of the preferable embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the drawings for the purpose of facilitating a clear understanding of the invention. It is, however, to be understood that it is not intended that the invention be limited to'the details of any such embodiments disclosed except in so far as any features of the same may be specifically included' in the appended claims, because minor changes and alterations may be made without in the least departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective View of a portion of a door, illustrating one form of the device as applied thereto, the key shown in this instance being of the fiat-shank variety. Fig. 2 is an elevation of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a sectional view on the line 00 w of Fig. 2 looking in the direction of the arrow. Fig. dis a front elevation of aslightly-modified form of device, the knob-shank and keyshank being shown in section. Fig. 5 is an edge view of Fig. 4, and Figs. 6, 7, and 8 are fragmentary views illustrating various details of construction.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts in the several views,

Serial No. 150,235. (No model.)

Adesignates the shank of a door-knob, which is of the ordinary type, around which fits .a cover or finishing plate or ring B, said plate in turn being secured to the face of the door.

C is a split wire ring or loop adapted to be slipped over the knob-shank and hung upon a headed pin D, which will hold the ring in place and prevent movement thereof longitudinallyof said shank. Engaging the lower portion of the ring or loop is the upper end of a coiled spring E, which is suspended from said ring and is at its opposite end formed into a hook engaging an eye 6' of a key-engaging device F.

The device F referred to is designed more particularly for use in connection with keys having a flat shank, as indicated at G, Fig. 3, to which end it is formed with a normally horizontally disposed flatspring-loopfiadapted to embrace the key-shank, anda laterallyprojecting handpiece f" for disengaging the loop from the key, said loop being split at any desired point, or the same may be of an endless fiexible material adapted to be forced over theend of the key. The eye e is formed centrally of the upper bar of the flat loop f, so as to retain the latter in its horizontal position. By this arrangement when the key is turned into locked position its shank will occupy a horizontal plane and be firmly grasped by the spring-loop, so that the turning of the key by instruments from the outside of the door will be to a limited extent resisted, the

constant tension of the spring E aiding materially in this respect. The elasticity of the spring or its equivalent connection enables the ready application of the device to doors wherein the knob and key are at different distances apart. It will be further appreciated that while the loop f normally retains the keyeshank in a horizontal plane said loop, however, has sufii= f1 tion by the spring E, incidentally shifting the key a quarter-turn to destroy such registration.

In the embodiment of Figs. 4 and 5, H designates the shank of a door-knob, which is preferably circular in cross-section, as is ordinarily the case, and adapted to engage thereover, and capable of ready attachment to and detachment from the same is a split ring J, formed of spring metal and terminating at one end in a downwardly-extending hook 7'. To this hook the hooked end of a coil-spring K is secured, the opposite end of said spring being also hooked, as at it, and connecting to the hooked end 6 of a split spring-ring L, adapted to receive the shank of a key and loosely engage the same, whereby the key may readily rotate, the shank of the key in the present instance being rounded in crosssection. By this arrangement it will be seen that the device is of a very simple character, is readily attached to a door-knob and key, and while permitting free rotation of the key will effectually retain the same in place. To facilitate detachment of the ring J from the key, a handpiece M is connected thereto, said handpiece depending from said ring in such manner as to afford no appreciable obstruction or objectionable appearance, but within easy access.

In the form shown in Fig. 6 the plate or ring B is provided with a projection 6, back of which the ring 0 maybe fitted instead of over the headed pin D, as in the form first above described.

Fig. 7 discloses another form, in which both the headed'pin I) and the lug b of the preceding forms are dispensed with. In this instance the upper end of the spring E is secured directly to the plate or ring B through the medium of a screw-eye 5 depending from said plate or ring.

Fig. 8 shows another manner of fashioning the key-engaging loop. Its formation is obvious.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new, and desired to be secured by Letters Patent, is

1. Key-retaining instrumentalities including a spring, a ring secured to one end of the spring, and a connecting device secured to the other end thereof, in combination with means for preventing movement of the retainerlongitudinally of the key.

2. A key-retainer comprising a relatively flat loop adapted to embrace the shank of a key and turn therewith, and an elastic device for causing said loop to normally assume an approximately horizontal position.

3. A key-retainer comprising a relatively flat loop adapted to embrace the shank of a key and turn therewith, and means for causing said loop to normally assume an approximately horizontal position.

4. A key-retainer comprising means for securing the same to a key whereby the key may turn without affecting the normal operative relation of the device thereto, and means for automatically turning the key from a position in registration with a keyhole to a position out of registration therewith.

5. A key-retainer comprising a ring, a relatively flat loop adapted to embrace the shank of the key, and a flexible connection between said ring and loop.

6. A key-retainer comprising a ring, a relatively flat loop adapted to embrace the shank of the key, and an elastic connection between said ring and loop.

7. A key retainer comprising a flexible member, and a relatively flat loop carried thereby adapted to embrace the shank of the key.

8. A key-retainer comprising a relatively flat loop adapted to embrace the shank of a key and turn therewith, and means for returning saidloop to a normal position when the key is turned.

9. A key-retainer comprising a relatively flat loop adapted to embrace the shank of a key and turn therewith, and an elastic device for returning said loop to a normal position,when the key is turned.

10. A key-retainer comprising separated loops one of said loops being substantially continuous and split, a connecting device therebetween, and a handpiece carried by the split 11. A key-retainer comprising separated loops one of said loops being substantially continuous and split, an elastic connecting device therebetween, and a handpiece carried by the split loop. g

12. A key-retainer comprising separated loops, one adapted to engage the key to permit turning of the key without detaching the retainer therefrom, a connecting device therebetween, and a handpiece carried by one of the loops.

13. A key-retainer comprising separated loops, one adapted to engage the key to permit turning of the key without detaching the retainer therefrom, an elastic .connecting device therebetween, and a handpiece carried by,

one of the loops.

14:. A key-retainer comprising means for securing the same to a key whereby the key may turn without affecting the normal operative relation of the device thereto, said means including means for engaging a fixture on the door, means for embracing the stem of the key at a point intermediate its bow and bit, and a flexible connection between said two last-mentioned means.

15. A key-retainer comprising means for securing the same to a key whereby the key may turn without affecting the normal operative relation of the device thereto, said means including means for engaging a fixture on the door, means for engaging the key, and an elastic connection between said last two mentioned means.

16. A key-retainer comprising an attaching device, an elastic connecting device secured at one end to said attaching device, and a relatively flat loop secured to the opposite end of said connecting device at a point at approxiinately the center of the upper edge of said oop.

17. A key-retainer comprising an attaching device, an elastic connecting device secured at one end to said attaching device, and a relatively flat spring-loop secured to the opposite end of said connecting device at a point at approximately the center of the upper edge of the loop.

18. A key-retainer comprising means for securing the same to a key whereby the key may turn without affecting the normal operative relation of the device thereto, said means including separated split loops and a flexible connection therebetween.

19. A key-retainer comprising a relatively flat spring-loop adapted to embrace the shank of a key, a handpiece on said loop projecting outwardly therefrom, and a support device connected to a portion of the loop and movable therewith.

20. A key-retainer comprising means for securing the same to a key whereby the key may turn without affecting the normal opera-v tive relation of the device thereto, said means including separated split loops and an elastic connection therebetween.

21. A key-retainer comprising means for securing the same to a key whereby the key may turn without affecting the normal operative relation of the device thereto, said means including a loop adapted to engage a fixture on a door, a flexible connection depending therefrom in approximate vertical alinement therewith, and means'on said flexible connection arranged to embrace the stem of the key at a point intermediate its bow and bit.

22. A key-retainer comprising means for securing the same to a key whereby the key may turn without affecting the normal operative relation of the device thereto, said means including a loop adapted to engage a fixture on a door, and an elastic connection depending therefrom in approximate vertical alinement therewith.

23. A key-retainer comprising an attaching device, an elastic connecting device secured at one end thereto, and a relatively flat loop adapted to embrace the shank of a key having an eye arranged centrally of its upper portion secured to the opposite end of the connecting device.

24. Akey-retainer comprisinga loop, an attaching device, and elastic means intermediate of and constituting a direct straight connection between said device and loop.

25. A key-retainer comprising an attaching device, a spring constituting a connecting device secured at one end thereto, and a relatively flat loop adapted to embrace the shank of a key having an eye arranged centrally of its upper portion secured to the opposite end of the connecting device, in combination with means for securing the retainer close to the face of a door.

26. A key-retainer comprisinga loop, an attaching device, and elastic means intermediate of and constituting a direct straight connection between said device and loop, in combination with means for securing the retainer close to the face of a door.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses. v

EDWARD T. BURROWES. Witnesses:

STEPHEN W. CABLE, FRED. W. SHAW. 

